Michael – Peavey T-30... traded it in for
a Fender bass... I think... it’s been a while.

QRD – What’s your typical set-up from guitar
to effects to amplifier?

Michael – Guitar... cord... amp...period.

QRD – What’s the most important part of
your rig – guitar, amplifier, or effects?

Michael – Amp. It is a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1x12 that has a Weber Blue Dog speaker, re-soldered connections, &
replacement capacitors. It is tuned hot which helps the dynamic between
my guitar & amp perform like a theremin on command. Unfortunately,
I burn out a bunch of tubes this way.

QRD – What’s your main amplifier &
why?

Michael – See above. Plus, the tone of
the Hot Rod Deluxe with the Blue Dog is unbeatable. I also use a late 70s
(?) Fender 2x15 cabinet.

QRD – What’s your main guitar & what
are the features that make it such?

Michael – Stock Mexican Fender Telecaster.
It is comparatively inexpensive & if I lose it, break it, etc. it can
easily be replaced. Tone-wise, the thickness can’t be beat.

QRD – If you had a signature guitar, what
would it look like & what would some of its features be?

Michael – I am currently working on deconstructing
my ‘81 Fender Musicmaster, beveling the back a bit, switching the pick-up
to a P-90, using a Strat neck, & eliminating the remaining gloss finish
with a sander so the tone can breath.

QRD – If you had a signature pedal, what
would it be & what would some of its features be?

Michael – Funny, I’ve actually have been
talking to a friend of mine, Ethan Hahn, about this subject. He designs
pedals for people via his company, ProTone Pedals, & does an amazing
job. I’m looking to develop something that would have one button &
be the ambient audio equivalent of fractal geometry, picking up the last
phrase & running with it. But... I don’t use pedals & we are usually
at a house party in Denton when we get on to this topic, so we are consistently
at a vague impasse.

Michael – The amount one can make working
for a few months part-time after school in 11th grade.

QRD – Do you upgrade & customize your
guitars or just stick with what you get?

Michael – My Tele is stock. The Musicmaster
is a work in progress.

QRD – How thoroughly do you research or
test a piece of equipment before buying it?

Michael – I can tell in five minutes if
a guitar is going to work for me.

QRD – Do you change your rig around often?

Michael – No.

QRD – Are you after one particular guitar
tone & locking into it, or do you like to change your tone around a
lot?

Michael – One particular guitar tone.

QRD – What are some guitars, amps, &
pedals you particularly lust after?

Michael – Well... I wouldn’t exactly say
“lust,” but I really like the guitar Ronnie uses in Neon Indian. I have
never seen anything like it. It is basically a flat screen monitor in the
guitar that displays trippy graphics during their sets. It is a perfect
match to Ronnie’s formidable playing talent & the aesthetics of the
band. It wouldn’t work for me, but I am glad that it exists without a doubt!

QRD – What do you think are some important
features to be on a person’s first guitar that aren’t always there?

Michael – A piece of paper that says, “Find
a friend & start a band immediately.”

QRD – What have been the best & worst
guitar related purchases you’ve made?

Michael – At Shiny rehearsals, we enjoy
having cocktails, talking endless about how badass we are & occasionally
spilling out onto the lawn, throwing things, etc.… We find this adequately
prepares us for our shows.

QRD – How many hours a week do you play
guitar & how many hours would you like to?

Michael – I’ve never kept track of this.

QRD – What type of pick do you use &
why?

Michael – Medium orange ones. Thin ones
fall apart & thick ones break strings or pop out of my hand. Orange
because that’s what McBrides in Denton has a huge back stock of at the
moment.